How to make a paper popper (paper banger)
This page has a UK and a US version. UK version of this page
The paper popper is a traditional folded toy that makes a loud crack when you flick it. A pocket of paper is hidden inside the triangle; a sharp flick makes it shoot out and catch the air. Seven folds, one big noise.
- Medium
- Age 7+
- About 10 minutes
- 7 steps
- No scissors
- Moves: Watch it pop
Lesson at a glance
- You need
- A sheet of letter-size paper. No scissors or glue.
- Time
- About 10 minutes (allow longer the first time)
- Level
- Medium · age 7+
- How to teach it
- Show the 3D folder on the board and pause after each step, or print the step sheet for each table. Both show the same folds.
Finished!
Step 1 of 7Lay the paper flat, long side towards you. Fold it in half from top to bottom, crease it and open it again.
Keys: left and right arrows go back and forward, Space plays or pauses, R plays the step again, B shows the back. On the 3D picture, the arrow keys turn it and + and − zoom.
How to fold a paper popper: step by step
You need: one sheet of US Letter (or A4) paper. Ordinary printer paper works well; slightly thicker paper gives a louder bang. Newspaper makes a big one.
Lay the paper flat, long side towards you. Fold it in half from top to bottom, crease it and open it again.
Fold all four corners in so their edges lie along the middle crease.
Fold it in half along the middle crease, bringing the top down to the bottom.
Fold it in half from left to right, crease it well and open it again.
Fold the left end down so its top edge lies along the middle crease. Do the same with the right end. Both points now hang down.
Fold the whole thing in half behind you along the middle crease, so it makes a triangle with the two points at the bottom.
Hold the two loose points at the bottom together, with the long folded edge pointing away from you. Lift it above your shoulder and flick it down hard and fast – BANG! The hidden middle shoots out.
Finished!
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How to make it move
- Hold it right: pinch the two loose points together between your thumb and fingers, with the long folded edge pointing away from you and the open side facing down.
- Flick it: lift it up beside your head and bring your arm down fast, like cracking a whip. Stop suddenly at the bottom – the hidden pocket shoots out and goes BANG.
- Reload: push the pocket back inside along its creases and pop it again.
- Louder or quieter: bigger paper and a faster flick make a louder bang; very soft paper makes a quiet pop.
If it goes wrong
- No bang: you are probably holding the wrong corners. Hold the two loose points, not the folded corner, and flick downwards hard, stopping suddenly.
- The pocket falls out on its own: sharpen the creases in steps 5 and 6, and push the pocket back in snugly before you flick.
- It tears after a few pops: that is normal – fold a new one. Printer paper lasts longer than newspaper.
- The shape is lopsided: the corners in step 2 must lie exactly on the middle crease. Refold them neatly.
What kids learn
- Sound and air: the bang is made by the pocket of paper suddenly catching and pushing the air – a sound is a vibration traveling through the air.
- Forces: a fast flick gives the pocket lots of speed; stopping suddenly makes it fly out.
- Shape and symmetry: rectangle, hexagon, trapezoid and triangle all appear as you fold, and every shape is symmetrical.
- Following instructions in order: seven precise folds with a clear test at the end.
Classroom tips for teachers
- Plan for noise: fold indoors, then go outside or into the hall for the popping. Agree a signal for “pop now” and “stop”.
- Science link (sound): who can make the loudest pop? Does bigger paper, thicker paper or a faster flick make a louder sound? Use a free sound-meter app to measure it.
- Math link: name the shape after every fold, and count the lines of symmetry.
- Writing link: students write their own instructions for the popper, then test a partner’s instructions.
- SEND tips: some children find sudden loud noises distressing. Warn the class before popping, offer ear defenders or a quiet space, and let anyone who prefers watch the 3D model instead.
Standards links
- Science (NGSS 1-PS4-1): plan and carry out investigations to show that vibrating materials can make sound.
- Science (NGSS 4-PS4-1): develop a model of waves to describe how sound travels.
- Math (2.G.A.1, 4.G.A.3): recognize and draw shapes with given attributes; identify lines of symmetry.
- ELA (W.3.2): write informative instructions with clear, ordered steps.
Links to the Common Core State Standards, NGSS and the National Core Arts Standards. Check against your own state’s standards.
Safety
No scissors or glue are needed. The popper makes a sudden loud noise: warn everyone before you pop, never pop it close to someone’s ear or face, and give children who are sensitive to noise a choice to step away. Flick it downwards, away from other people.
More origami to try
More for your classroom
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t my paper popper bang?
Hold the two loose points together, not the folded corner, and flick down fast, stopping suddenly. Check that the pocket is tucked inside before you flick.
What paper makes the loudest popper?
A4 or US Letter printer paper works well. Bigger sheets, such as a newspaper page, make a louder bang.
Is the paper popper safe for the classroom?
Yes, with some rules: warn everyone first, pop away from faces and ears, and give children who dislike loud noises a quiet option.
Is this the same as a paper banger?
Yes. Paper popper, paper banger and paper cracker are all names for this traditional model.